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Council Tax

Discounts and Exemptions

The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in a home. If only one adult lives in a home (as the main home), the Council Tax bill will be reduced by a quarter (25 per cent) - Single Person Discount. If a property is no one's main home, the bill will be reduced by 10 per cent, unless you have to live elsewhere because of your job, or in Armed Forces Barracks in the UK, when it will be reduced by 50 per cent. This can apply to empty properties and second homes. People in the following groups will not be counted for Council Tax purposes.

• Full-time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees;
• Patients living in hospitals, care homes, certain hostels or night shelters;
• People who are severely mentally impaired;
• People of ages 18 and 19 years, who are at, or who have just left school;
• Care workers working for low pay, usually for charities;
• People caring for someone with a disability, who is not a partner, or child under 18;
• Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions;
• Members of religious communities (monks and nuns); and
• People in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax, or a fine).

Please click on the relevant form, from the the list on the right hand side of this page, for more information about the disregard which you may be entitled to.

If you are claiming any discounts or exemptions, you must immediately tell us about any change in your circumstances. If you don't, you may have to pay a penalty of £50.

If you know of anyone who is receiving council tax discounts fraudulently, please let us know.

• Council Tax Information Leaflet (707KB)

Disabled Discount

You may be entitled to a discount if someone living in your home is disabled, and you need a room, or an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your home, to meet their special needs. The discount reduces your Council Tax bill by one band. The discount makes sure disabled people do not pay more tax for space they need because of their disability. Band A properties will be reduced by 1/9th of the Band D charge.

Exempt Properties

Council Tax is not charged for some properties, known as exempt properties. Exempt properties include those lived in only by students, people under 18, or people who are severely mentally impaired. A self contained part of your home, occupied by an elderly or disabled relative, is exempt. Vacant properties are exempt if they:

• are unfurnished (exempt for up to six months), or left empty by students;
• are owned by a charity (exempt for up to six months);
• need, or are undergoing structural alteration or major repair (exempt for up to 12 months) - Exempt Class A (80KB)
• are left empty by someone who has gone to prison, or has moved to a hospital or home elsewhere;
• are left empty by someone who has moved, in order to provide personal care to another person;
• are waiting for probate or letters of administration to be granted (and for up to six months after);
• have been repossessed, or are the responsibility of a bankrupt's trustee;
• are empty because they cannot be lived in by law; or
• are waiting for a minister of religion to move in.

Please write in if you think you may be entitled to any of these exemptions.

For Exempt Class A please use the following form:

• Exempt Class A Form (80KB)

Data Protection Act 1998

Information on forms may be recorded on computers and is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. Although you do not need give this information, if you do not do so it will be assumed that no discount is applicable. If you have any other queries about discount or would like any more information about Council Tax, please contact us on 0845 129 77 77 or 01298 28400.